HB 659, titled "Local Government Spending Transparency," aims to increase public access to financial information from local governments in North Carolina. The bill requires all local government invoices to be itemized, detailing the payee, amount, items purchased, and performance dates. These quarterly invoices must be publicly available via a link on the government's website or as physical copies for municipalities without a website. Additionally, local government websites would need to provide links to the top three bids for projects, services, or goods purchased with tax dollars, with quarterly updates. Both invoices and bids are to be unredacted unless legally required, and these provisions take effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 306 authorizes the Towns of Blowing Rock and Boone, Watauga County, and the Watauga County Board of Education to construct and provide affordable housing for their employees, including public school teachers. These local government units can build housing on their own property, partner with other entities, or contract with businesses for development. They are permitted to rent or sell these units exclusively to their employees, offering below-market rates, financing, and placing resale restrictions. All housing constructed under this act must comply with applicable building codes and zoning ordinances.
HB 598, titled "Live Event Ticketing Protections and Reforms," aims to create consumer protections for individuals purchasing tickets for live entertainment events, particularly in the secondary market. The bill requires ticket issuers, resellers, and secondary ticket exchanges to clearly display the total ticket price, including all mandatory fees, from the initial listing and prohibits price increases during a single ticketing session. It prevents primary ticket issuers from restricting a purchaser's ability to resell tickets on their chosen platform or from setting minimum/maximum resale prices. Additionally, secondary ticket exchanges would be prohibited from using website addresses that are similar to the name of an event, performer, or venue.
HB 765, titled "Save the American Dream Act," introduces new requirements for fiscal notes concerning housing affordability at both state and local levels. The bill mandates that the state's Fiscal Research Division prepare a five-year fiscal note for any proposed state legislation that could impact the cost of constructing, purchasing, owning, or selling a single-family residence. Similarly, it requires county and city governments to prepare a fiscal note for local ordinances that could affect these same costs. These local notes must be made public at least five days before the ordinance is introduced.
HB 24, titled "Restore Down-Zoning Authority," aims to reinstate the power of local governments to initiate "down-zoning." This means local governments would regain the ability to change zoning classifications for properties to allow for less intensive development or use. The bill achieves this by repealing Section 3K.1 of S.L. 2024-57, which had previously restricted this authority. If enacted, it would apply retroactively to December 11, 2024, ensuring that any local ordinances impacted by the repealed section are restored to their status prior to that date.
House Bill 516, the "Motorcycle Road Guard Safety Act," creates a system allowing certified individuals to direct traffic for motorcycle groups. To become a motorcycle road guard, a person must be at least 18 years old, possess a valid driver's license, and successfully complete a certification course developed by the Division of Motor Vehicles. Certified road guards must meet specific safety standards and are required to notify and obtain consent from the chief of police in each city where they plan to direct traffic. The Division of Motor Vehicles will adopt rules to implement these new provisions.
Senate Bill 110, titled "North Carolina Work and Save," establishes the North Carolina Small Business Retirement Savings Program. This program aims to help private-sector employees aged 18 and older in North Carolina save for retirement if their employer does not already offer a retirement plan. It enables participating employers to offer a voluntary payroll deduction Individual Retirement Account (IRA) arrangement for their employees. A new North Carolina Small Business Retirement Savings Board would be created to oversee the program and manage its funds through private-sector entities.
SB 89 requires all public schools and certain nonpublic schools in North Carolina to install automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and provide training to staff on their use and on CPR. The State Board of Education will adopt rules for public schools, which include placing at least two AEDs per school, with one in an athletic facility, and implementing staff training. Local school boards, charter schools, and other public school entities must then develop policies in line with these state rules. The bill appropriates $4,000 per school to assist with the purchase and installation of AEDs and staff training.
HB 729, titled the "Farmland Protection Act," makes several changes related to solar energy development. It reduces the property tax exclusion for solar energy electric systems from 80% to 40% of their appraised value, which will increase the taxable value of these systems. The bill also prohibits the construction of new utility-scale solar projects that are not qualifying facilities under federal law, unless they are sited on specific types of land such as brownfields, non-agricultural land, or clear-cut timberland. Additionally, it updates the effective dates for requirements regarding financial assurance and decommissioning plans for utility-scale solar projects, affecting both existing and new facilities.
House Bill 584 seeks to eliminate the requirement for individuals under 18 to obtain a driving eligibility certificate when applying for a learner's permit or provisional driver's license. Currently, this certificate links a young person's driving privileges to their enrollment in school, academic progress, or possession of a high school diploma. The bill removes these educational prerequisites, along with conditions related to certain student disciplinary actions, for obtaining these licenses. This change directly affects young drivers seeking their initial permits and licenses.
HB 675 modifies the credentialing requirements for various emergency medical services personnel, including EMTs, paramedics, and emergency medical responders. Beginning January 1, 2026, individuals seeking new or renewed credentials must pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) examination. Those currently holding non-NREMT state credentials prior to this date must obtain NREMT certification by January 1, 2030. The bill also requires a criminal history background check for applicants and mandates specific examinations from the International Board of Specialty Certification for specialty roles.
HB 219 proposes to repeal the existing law that authorizes counties to franchise ambulance services. The bill also specifies that county officials, such as a county manager or EMS administrator, would no longer be required to approve modifications to the level of care offered by certain emergency medical services (EMS) providers. This change applies to EMS providers that are not owned or operated by a city within the county or by the county itself, removing a layer of county oversight for these services.
